How do Eye Injuries happen?
The world of children is surrounded by potential injuries waiting to happen. Eye injuries can occur by something as simple as dust or dirt going in the eye to graver injuries in sports or due to chemicals going in the eye.
In this article:
What are the signs and symptoms after an eye injury?
An injury to the eye may have several symptoms depending on the mechanism and its severity. Common symptoms include:
- The eye may become red
- Area surrounding the eye may have redness, bleeding, or bruising.
- The eye may sting.
- There may be burning of eye
- There may be tearing or watering of the eyes.
- Eyes may become sensitive to light.
- Children may complain of blurry vision.
- The eyelids can become swollen.
When should I see a doctor for eye injury?
Eye injuries which are serious need medical care immediately as the vision may be at stake. In case of the following signs, immediate visit to the doctor is needed:
- Child has trouble seeing
- There is a feeling something stuck in the eye
- Child complains of severe eye pain
- There is visible blood in the eye
- The child has an upset stomach or vomiting after an eye injury
- There is a visible cut on the eye
- The pupils don’t look equal
- There is an injury and stuck object is visible
Can eye Injuries be treated at home?
Minor eye injuries can be managed at home. Minor injuries are dust or dirt being trapped in the eye. The steps to be followed are:
- Firstly, you should always wash your hands with soap and water before touching the eye.
- Contact lenses should be removed.
- Flush the eye with water.
- Lukewarm water is poured over the eye steadily while your child blinks.
- Flushing of the eye is done for 5 minutes, then checked and can be repeated upto 15 min.
If no relief is felt on following these steps, consult your doctor immediately.
How to prevent eye injury?
It is important to prevent eye injuries as they carry a threat of serious problems including blindness. The basic interventions to prevent eye injury are-
- Ensure your child wears proper protective equipment while playing sports.
- Ensure your child wears safety goggles when needed.
- Keep harsh chemicals out of the reach of your child.
